Builds Ikarus' HDJ81 Aussie-Style Build (4 Viewers)

[ikarus]

I have this bad habit of putting off projects that require disassembling the cruiser, and this week it all came to a head. My windows are slow, my speakers are blown, two power door locks aren't working, my rear sliding windows are leaking, as mentioned previously my louvers are leaking, my AC isn't working very well, I have an ATF leak I can't seem to track down, and my aftermarket fender flare trim keeps falling out of place... so it's time to park the 80 for the summer and turn what should be a few minor repairs into a snowball of a project and do it all at once.

First step was to leave it out in the sun and pull off the VX Limited trim. I don't mind the trim itself but mine is showing its age.

It's held on with three rows of double sided adhesive. Peeled right off after 30 min in the sun.

Didn't know there were holes underneath. The VX trim has small pegs on the back that fit in the hole to line it up but the new "4wd" trim I have doesn't seem to have those. I'll probably fill the holes.

I realized I should have washed the cruiser first, oops.

Covered up each hole with duct tape, took out the rear carpet/interior and washed it. Parked it where it will sit for the foreseeable future.

My agenda in no particular order:

- new window runs, motors, weather stripping, vapor barrier, etc
- new door locks and ext/int handles, buttons and switches
- new louvers and sliding glass seals

- sound deadening (should have done it the last time I had everything apart)
- new speakers

- AC system refresh - haven't decided on what exactly yet
- new hvac blower motor

- repaint the gutters
- two-tone moonglow delete: paint everything desert dune metallic
- new 4wd door trim
- fill holes in LX450 fender and holes left by VX Limited trim

- new fender flares and hardware
- new side mirrors

- manual transmission swap
- new driveshafts
- remove trans cooler
- swap mph cluster

- new grille
- new turn signals

- new battery boxes (trying to figure out how to reinforce the floor for a traditional tie-down)

- stainless snorkel (at powder coat right now)

- make brackets for 6" LEDs to fit into ARB bumper
- figure out how to reinforce the floor and install ARB drawers w/ no 3rd row seat mounts

Probably forgetting some stuff. Plenty to work on, hopefully I have it back on the road by the fall but who knows. haha

 

[hewy]

Top 5 builds for me. Excited to see its next phase.

 

[WiscoPat]

I have this bad habit of putting off projects that require disassembling the cruiser, and this week it all came to a head. My windows are slow, my speakers are blown, two power door locks aren't working, my rear sliding windows are leaking, as mentioned previously my louvers are leaking, my AC isn't working very well, I have an ATF leak I can't seem to track down, and my aftermarket fender flare trim keeps falling out of place... so it's time to park the 80 for the summer and turn what should be a few minor repairs into a snowball of a project and do it all at once.

First step was to leave it out in the sun and pull off the VX Limited trim. I don't mind the trim itself but mine is showing its age.

View attachment 3919045

View attachment 3919046

It's held on with three rows of double sided adhesive. Peeled right off after 30 min in the sun.

View attachment 3919047

Didn't know there were holes underneath. The VX trim has small pegs on the back that fit in the hole to line it up but the new "4wd" trim I have doesn't seem to have those. I'll probably fill the holes.

I realized I should have washed the cruiser first, oops.

View attachment 3919048

Covered up each hole with duct tape, took out the rear carpet/interior and washed it. Parked it where it will sit for the foreseeable future.

View attachment 3919049

View attachment 3919051

My agenda in no particular order:

- new window runs, motors, weather stripping, vapor barrier, etc
- new door locks and ext/int handles, buttons and switches
- new louvers and sliding glass seals

- sound deadening (should have done it the last time I had everything apart)
- new speakers

- AC system refresh - haven't decided on what exactly yet
- new hvac blower motor

- repaint the gutters
- two-tone moonglow delete: paint everything desert dune metallic
- new 4wd door trim
- fill holes in LX450 fender and holes left by VX Limited trim

- new fender flares and hardware
- new side mirrors

- manual transmission swap
- new driveshafts
- remove trans cooler
- swap mph cluster

- new grille
- new turn signals

- new battery boxes (trying to figure out how to reinforce the floor for a traditional tie-down)

- stainless snorkel (at powder coat right now)

- make brackets for 6" LEDs to fit into ARB bumper
- figure out how to reinforce the floor and install ARB drawers w/ no 3rd row seat mounts

Probably forgetting some stuff. Plenty to work on, hopefully I have it back on the road by the fall but who knows. haha

Excited for your progress dude, and to see another solid color desert dune 80 in the mix!

 

[ikarus]

Excited for your progress dude, and to see another solid color desert dune 80 in the mix!

Thanks man! My paint won’t be as nice as yours but it should look better than the 5 mismatched shades I have now

 

[FMC80]

I like the “Moonglow delete”. I had the same paint on a 97 I sold; I didn’t care for the moonglow aspect of it at all. This will be fun to watch the transformation.

 

[ikarus]

I like the “Moonglow delete”. I had the same paint on a 97 I sold; I didn’t care for the moonglow aspect of it at all. This will be fun to watch the transformation.

Agreed. I don't mind the moonglow on the flares cause it's more of a grey color, but the moonglow on the body is just blue. Not sure why they're different. I'm guessing the flares were repainted at some point but the body is original.

 

[ikarus]

Disassembly continues.

I was relieved to see no rust under the rear sliding windows but there was a decent amount of water lurking under there from the car wash a week ago.

Doing this has got me thinking about gullwings, not gonna lie

Doors are coming apart nicely. Glass is out, mirror is off. Butyl is nasty

The door cards need a little TLC. They're in nice shape overall but there's some water damage and cracked MDF or whatever the backing is made out of. And that's got me thinking about Orikawa door cards... and bigger speakers... $$$

 

[ikarus]

Alright thoughts/opinions on paint scheme options? Just some rough photoshopping but it gets the idea across

Option 1: Desert dune all over. Leaning toward this one.

Option 2: Black flares, desert dune body

Option 3: Black flares, black mirrors, desert dune body

 

[OffRoadScott]

I side with you on your choice of paint jobs. The 2nd one would be the next one.

 

[logicbyondreaso]

Option 1 for paint!

 

[HDJ80L]

Option 1 as well. Looks so clean with the flares in body color. Only downside is its more difficult to touch up scratches/defects compared to a simple unicolor

 

[Ecliff5]

Option 1. Loved my desert dune 80. Such a good color.